If you need help managing your barking dog, check with your veterinarian or contact a dog obedience club or behaviouralist.

Citronella collars

We have a number of citronella collars available for residents to hire. For more information contact our Customer Service team on 5261 0600 or download the application form.

How to report a barking dog

Once you’ve identified the address of the barking dog, keep a diary of the dog’s barking habits for 2 weeks. Note the date, time and duration of barking, and the reason, if known, as well as the effect the dog’s barking is having on you.

Forward the diary and a letter of complaint that has been supported and co-signed by at least one other neighbour who is also affected by the barking.

Continue to keep the diary of the dog’s barking habits for a further month. This will monitor whether the problem continues or improves as a result of any action taken.

Once we receive your letter and diary, we will:

appoint an officer to investigate your complaint

study the diary for barking patterns with the intention of revealing the reason for the dog’s barking.

identify whether other residents are being affected by the dog’s barking.

advise the dog owner of the complaint, discuss possible solutions and inform them of their responsibilities, the offences and penalties.

The Council can issue any or all of the following:

verbal warning to dog owner

written letter of warning

issue a Notice to Comply to abate all nuisance noise immediately.

If the owner fails to comply with the notice, Council may issue an infringement notice against them.

If they still don’t address the noise, Council may proceed with legal action against the dog owner. If the Magistrates Court makes a court order, the dog owner must comply or there will be further penalties.

NOTE: An infringement notice or legal proceeding will not be issued against the dog owner unless the complainant is prepared to give testimony in the Magistrates Court.

We’d prefer it didn’t go that far, of course. If there’s a barking dog causing stress in your neighbourhood, talk to the owner. If you are the owner of a barking dog and can’t seem to fix the issue, seek professional advice.